2004 Medical Premiums
To Increase About 15%

A University of California memo to employees indicates that due to increased costs in the health insurance industry, monthly medical premiums will increase on average by 15 percent in 2004. UC is not canceling any plans or raising employee costs for co-pays and deductibles. UC will also continue to provide dental and vision coverage, and basic life and disability insurance at no cost to employees. This year, UC will help protect employees in lower salary ranges from the impact of the increases with a salary-based employee contribution structure. The new 2004 rates and the University’s explanatory memo can be seen here.

Meza Co-Chairs Computing
Diversity Conference

Meza

Registration is now open for the 2003 Richard Tapia Celebration of Diversity in Computing Conference on Oct. 15 - 18 in Atlanta, Ga. This year’s conference will highlight creative, innovative, and original research and applications of computing. Juan Meza, head of the Lab’s High Performance Computing Research Department, is co-chair of the conference and the Lab is a Bronze sponsor through the Work Force Diversity Office. Go here to learn more about the conference.

Community Offers Input
on Campus’s LRDP

More than 125 Berkeley residents came last Monday night to share their thoughts, concerns and suggestions on the long-range growth and development of UC Berkeley. Earlier this month, university officials invited the public to participate in the meeting and comment on the scope of issues to be addressed in a new Long Range Development Plan and Environmental Impact Report. Go here to read Janet Gilmore’s UC Berkeley press release. Go here to read the campus’s Notice of Preparation.

If Congress, as expected, approves legislation that provides the Department of Homeland Security with over $1 billion in FY04, research institutions across the country will have an opportunity to participate in R&D funding that will be up 68 percent from current levels. An analysis of the Department's new R&D portfolio, which includes $874 million in research funding, has been completed by the American Association for the Advancement of Science and can be read here.

Centers Tighten Security
After Chiron Bombing
By Peter Delevett

Chiron’s office in Emeryville

Dr. Linda Cork was driving to the airport when she heard animal-rights activists had bombed Emeryville-based Chiron. Cork, who oversees animal research at Stanford, placed three quick calls: offering help to Chiron, reviewing security at the buildings where Stanford's research animals are housed, and warning her communications staff to expect questions. Then, she caught her plane. That mix of preparation and pragmatism is typical among scientists who work with animals amid increasingly hostile attitudes. Many Bay Area research centers say they haven't tightened security since the Aug. 28 Chiron bombing. But nobody's blasé, either. Full story.

Proposed Policy Change:
Domestic Partners

The Laboratory proposes to modify its human resources policy RPM 2.01(E)(2) (Employment of Near Relatives) by adding same and opposite sex domestic partners to both the policy title and language. In addition, clarifying language has been added to the approval process. The proposed changes may be viewed here. Those who wish to comment on these changes must e-mail or write Mary Bishop, HR Policies Analyst, at MS 937R0600 or [email protected] by Oct. 28.